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After leaving Daluane, Fuuka and I headed north.
Once I visually confirmed the swarm of magic beasts marching south, I relayed the situation to Selma via Telepathy.
『We’ll make contact with the first wave in about five minutes. Our position is 1,500 meters north-northwest of Daluane.』
『Understood. Haruto, what’s the movement of the swarm? Are they all still converging on Daluane?』
Responding to my message, Selma reached out to Haruto, who was operating independently, to get a better handle on the situation.
『As expected, a portion of the magic beasts has diverted toward a nearby village. I’ll make it there in time, so I’ll intercept them on my end.』
『I’m counting on you. As we discussed in the briefing, I’m leaving the front-line offense and defense to the three of you. Go wild. Even if any slip past, we’ll make sure the city remains untouched, so fight without worry.』
With the battle only moments away, Selma gave us the green light to fight however we saw fit.
Her voice carried its usual steady tone.
Lately, I had felt like Selma’s attitude toward me was somewhat distant, but perhaps I had just been overthinking things. Considering the drama she’d just endured at her family home, it was only natural for her to be on edge.
"Fuuka, we’re going to start flashy, just like we planned. Cut down every magic beast that survives!"
When I called out to Fuuka beside me, she gave a small nod, her expression as unreadable as ever.
"I’m very good at that. Leave it to me."
After confirming her response, I closed the distance toward the encroaching swarm, constructing a spell formula in my mind as I moved. Once the formula was complete, I spoke with a voice infused with Ki.
"—【Culmination】."
My Kotodama and the Ki circulating through my body stripped away the restraints that bound me.
I intended to wipe out a massive area with a flashy opening move. Of all the attacks I knew, the one best suited for this was the rapid-fire bombardment Shion of Amunzaas had unleashed against the dragon swarm in Regrif Territory.
Explaining the trick behind it was simple enough. By activating 【Explode】 in an instant of rapid succession, it merely appeared as if the explosions were triggering one another and spreading across the battlefield.
However, even with Shion’s speed in spell construction, the human brain shouldn't be able to withstand the strain of firing off that many special-grade spells in such a short window. I could say with certainty that it was impossible through normal means.
I suspected the secret lay in his special ability, 【Time Rewind】.
I didn't know exactly how he interpreted that ability to facilitate rapid-fire special-grade magic, but I could replicate the feat through an Expanded Interpretation of my own.
While deeply analyzing my special ability, 【Gravity Manipulation】, I had come to a certain realization: gravity can interfere with time.
I couldn't do anything as extreme as time travel or stopping time entirely, but...
"—【Inflation】."
Based on that realization, I had developed a way to stretch my own perception of time. In short, everything appeared to move in slow motion.
There were several restrictions on its use, so I couldn't keep it active indefinitely, but given the right conditions, the advantage it provided was immeasurable. This time, I would pour that advantage into my spell construction.
"—【Explode Chain】!"
I triggered an 【Explode】 spell every time a construction was completed.
To any outside observer, however, it must have looked as if a massive barrage of 【Explode】 spells had been activated simultaneously. A wall of fire and pressure tore into the magic beast swarm.
"Not done yet! 【Thousand-Blade Cyclone】!"
While maintaining the rapid-fire 【Explode】 spells, I activated the wind-type special-grade magic 【Thousand-Blade Cyclone】, which I’d been constructing in parallel, expanding its range to its absolute limit.
I synced my internal clock back to the world around me and looked ahead. The first wave of the magic beast swarm was a landscape of total devastation.
"Phew... Time for a quick break. I'll leave the survivors to you, Fuuka."
"...I heard you were going to be flashy, but was it really necessary to go that far?"
When I turned around to ask Fuuka to handle the cleanup, she was staring at me with flat, half-lidded eyes.
Fuuka usually went at her own pace and seemed indifferent to the world, but even she felt the need to call me out this time. Yeah, even I knew I’d overdone it.
"Well, consider this my way of giving my disciples a little encouragement. I had to go all out."
"If anything, that’s just going to intimidate them... Fine. I'll go cut down the survivors. You take your break, Orun."
Leaving me with an exasperated remark, Fuuka drew her katana and sprinted toward the remaining magic beasts.
『Orun-san, we’ve arrived at the Labyrinth! We’re beginning our descent now!』
While watching Fuuka’s battle—which was as beautiful as a dance, as always—and plotting our next move, Sophia’s voice echoed in my mind.
Deep down, I wanted to tell them not to do anything reckless, or that it was okay to turn back if things got too difficult. But my disciples were already well aware of that.
So, the only words I could offer them now were—
『Yeah. Understood. I’m rooting for you. I know you three can conquer this Labyrinth. Don’t worry about what’s happening on the surface—give the conquest everything you’ve got!』
『Yes! We’re going in!』